The first thing I wanted to do in Orlando, Florida was visit Universal Studios Theme Park to hang out in Diagon Alley, Hogwarts, Hogsmeade and a London Street front…and, of course, I wanted to ride the Hogwarts Express. The new ride, Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure was on my list depending on the wait.
Was I excited? Yes! I have seen the movies and not read the books (which I plan to pursue in my travels over the next few months). I am not a die hard Harry Potter fan like my daughters, one or all of which can tell you what scene is played out in which movie at the drop of a hat. But I do like the movies and enjoyed the production and creativity of each one.
My excitement dimmed a bit upon checking in with our concierge desk at Hilton Orlando Resort on Destination Parkway. Universal Studios is a money maker and smart about getting visitors to spend extra money to achieve a desired experience. Translation: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is divided between Universal’s Islands of Adventure (Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure) and Universal Studios Park (a London street front leading to Diagon Alley). I budgeted $115 to visit The Wizarding World. I spent $218 on a 1-day-2-park pass.
Thankfully my husband, Keith, is so good to me and knew this was a goal of mine to use the photos and information I gathered for Up the Creek. So…I gritted my teeth and handed over my credit card. You better believe I was not happy about the expense.
Hogsmeade 
Snow-iced roofs 
But the experience? Phenomenal! I started in Islands of Adventure, hanging a right at the lake to stroll through Seuss Landing: A Green Eggs and Ham Café? Circus McGurks Café, etc? I wish I had had time to re-visit this section. I only had a day (actually 6.5 hours max due to the 94 degrees temperature and 90%+ humidity) to see everything I wanted to see. In retrospect, it would have been better to spend an additional $65+ for a 2-day, 2-park pass.
Next up was The Lost Continent which I plowed through. Up next was the entrance to Hogwart’s Express Train Station, but I was not interested in riding at that time….Hogsmeade was straight ahead. The magnitude of the shopfronts and other snow-iced buildings was stunning. The steep roofs with the occasional bent chimney? Charming and realistic. But not all shopfronts were real. The intriguing signs to enter faux shops though the display windows were fascinating, was a bit disappointing. I hope one day they invest in building out these stores for visitors.
My next stop was to get in line to enter Dervish & Banges. I figured it must be a cool shop since everyone was willing to queue for the experience. This is where my pre-planning failed me. After 15 minutes in line, I realized this was the shop where visitors (mostly children) could shop for a wand that is matched to them. I knew I could just enjoy watching children/adults find the brass markers in the cobblestones that marked a spot to use their wizarding muggle magic. I got out of this line though in future I will wait in order to experience the shop first hand.
At the end of Hogsmeade’s street, I saw Hogwarts! It was amazingly huge and immediately identifiable in the landscape.
Preparing to enter the castle itself, I discovered it was not a walking attraction but a ride with a combined rollercoaster and simulator experience. First, riders are required to place their belongings in a free locker. This is the one place in all rides requiring lockers that I believe Universal could improve on. The crush in the locker room was the only place in the crowded park that I and many others found irritating. When I was retrieving my belongings after the ride, a man next to me had to hold open the locker over my head – all while being jostled by other visitors waiting to get an assigned locker.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey was the only ride I could take advantage of being a single rider which usually sends a visitor ahead of the pack (almost as quickly as an Express Pass which is currently $69.99 plus tax). This was the shortest wait I had at the parks that day – about 20 minutes. The Sorting Hat toward the wait line expounded on the ride’s safety rules. The ride was thrilling and extremely well done.
While in line to ride Hogwarts Express from Islands of Adventure to Universal Studios Park, I knew I would be traveling back to Hogsmeade as I heard the experience was different each way. On the way back, you must go through Platform 9 3/4 which features a way to see passengers in front of you go through the brick wall.
Upon arrival on the London streetfront, I walked its length. It was cool, especially the Night Bus replete with the busdriver and the sassy cannibal head which interacted with visitors (obviously, someone was speaking by microphone to give specialized responses and tell jokes.
As I got to the street’s end, I realized I had missed to doorway to Diagon Alley. It’s a bit tricky because the creators want visitors to find the doorway on their own. The view as you walk through the entrance will catch your breath. It is magical. Three-story plus buildings in a triangular layout with spokes of shops in several places.
My next post will share my experiences in Diagon Alley!
